Emotional Betrayal From Child Sexual Abuse Measure (EBSCAM): A Psychometric Analysis

• Published in: Psychological trauma 2024-03, Vol.16 (3), p.416-424
• Main Authors: Wolf, Molly R., Linn, Braden K., Butler, Lisa D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adult Survivors of Child Abuse - psychology; Betrayal; Child; Child Abuse; Child Abuse - psychology; Child Abuse, Sexual - psychology; Dishonesty; Early Experience; Female; Human; Humans; Male; Psychometrics; Rating Scales; Sexual Abuse; Survivors; Test Reliability; Test Validity
• ISSN: 1942-9681; 1942-969X; 1942-969X
• DOI: 10.1037/tra0001514

Objective: This study examined the psychometric properties of a new scale, the Emotional Betrayal from Child Sexual Abuse Measure (EBCSAM), which assesses feelings of betrayal in adult survivors of child sexual abuse (CSA). Emotional betrayal is examined with respect to the perpetrator as well as others in the survivor's immediate environment (i.e., family, friends, etc.) during the time of the abuse. Method: A sample of 342 CSA survivors were anonymously surveyed online in order to examine the psychometric properties of the EBCSAM. Results: The original 16-item measure did not produce a good-fitting model, nor was it considered reliable or valid. Instead, a shortened six-item measure produced a successful model, was reliable (overall Cronbach's α = .85), and exploratory/confirmatory factor analyses suggested two valid latent subscales (Perpetrator Betrayal and Environmental Betrayal). Conclusion: This measure could be useful to clinicians treating survivors of child sexual abuse, as well as researchers, to reveal and evaluate aspects of emotional betrayal that impacted survivors. Clinical Impact Statement This study examined a new measure called "Emotional Betrayal from Child Sexual Abuse Measure (EBCSAM)," which gauged the feelings of betrayal in adult survivors of child sexual abuse, both in terms of feeling betrayed by the environment, and betrayed by the perpetrator of their abuse. This measure yields a reliable clinical picture of the client who feels betrayed, as well as the environment that allowed the abuse to happen to the client as a child and can be used for clinical assessment (and therapeutic treatment) of adult survivors of child sexual abuse.